DOJ Officials Reportedly Warned Comey That Announcement Broke With Policy

FBI Director James Comey testifies under oath before the House Oversight Committee to explain his agency's recommendation to not prosecute Hillary Clinton, now the Democratic presidential candidate, over her private email setup during her time as secretary of state, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 7, 2016. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
FBI Director James Comey testifies under oath before the House Oversight Committee to explain his agency's recommendation to not prosecute Hillary Clinton, now the Democratic presidential candidate, over her private ... FBI Director James Comey testifies under oath before the House Oversight Committee to explain his agency's recommendation to not prosecute Hillary Clinton, now the Democratic presidential candidate, over her private email setup during her time as secretary of state, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 7, 2016. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Senior officials at the Department of Justice told FBI Director James Comey ahead of time that his Friday announcement was not consistent with department policy, according to a Saturday report.

Comey told Justice Department officials that he planned to tell lawmakers about newly uncovered emails he said were “pertinent” to his agency’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private server, according to a report by the Washington Post.

Those officials warned Comey that his announcement was a break with policy and tradition.

“Director Comey understood our position. He heard it from Justice leadership,” an unnamed Justice Department official told the Post.

The official said that Comey then made an “independent decision” to notify Congress.

“He is operating independently of the Justice Department,” the official told the Post. “And he knows it.”

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Notable Replies

  1. It seems that there are no honest conservatives anywhere in the federal government. They are all corrupted by partisanship. I used to respect Comey, I’m done with him.

  2. Republicans fuck up everything they do because they put party first, country second. It’s as simple as that.

  3. I don’t doubt that conservatives see Hillary as an existential threat to the country. Overblown, yes. But in that light…

  4. What legal obligation did he have to inform Congress when they weren’t even in session? Furthermore, was the “obligation” legal or was it personal, as in he made a promise to inform them of any new developments even though there may be no law that says he has to do so?

  5. IMHO the GOP and right-wing noise machine have made it impossible to be both a so-called conservative and an honest person. Conservatism as a valid, plausible stance in political philosophy is a thing of the past. An incoherent jumble of plutocracy, theocracy, populism, xenophobia, cultural resentment, white nationalism and nihilism have replaced it. No honest person can defend it.

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